Violin-tailpiece.



PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906. B GATHER VIOLIN TAILPIEGE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. 1905 vwcvxto'c.

E- Gabi/Le? UNITED STATES BIRT OATHER, OF LEBANON, OREGON.

VIOLIN-TAILPIECE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed June 23, 1905. Serial No. 266,599.

To aZZ whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, BIRT CATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Linn and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Violin-Tailpieces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tailpiece for violins, guitars, or similar instruments, and has for its object to overcome the annoyance and difficulty commonly occasioned by the splitting of the wood and the consequent pulling out of the catgut by which the tailpiece is attached to the tail-pin.

To this end it consists, essentially, of a metal pin driven through the small endof the tailpiece and adapted to receive the strain due to the catgut and distribute same over a large area.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which will be effective in operation, simple and durable in construction, and which can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and ac companying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a violin, showing the tailpiece attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tailpiece. Fig. 3 is a bottom lan view of the small end of the tailpiece. fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line a: 00 of Fig. 3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the small end of the tailpiece, the under side of which is provided with a notch or depression 2, having communication with the longitudinal passages 3, which pass through the end of the tailpiece. As commonly employed the catgut is looped and passed through these openings and around the tailpiece 4. When thus constructed, all the strain is borne by the portion of the wood between the two passages 3, and much trouble is occasioned both in cheap and high-priced tailpieoes by the splitting of the wood and the pulling out of the catgut. To obviate this difficulty, I employ a metal pin or rivet 5, which is passed through the Wood between the two passages and receives the strain and distributes it over a large surface, and thereby eliminates the danger of splitting. The head of the rivet is embedded in the wood and may be ornamented in any desired manner, as by the initial of the owner. The opposite end of the rivet is secured by a washer 6, which is likewise embedded in the wood. The broad end of the tailpiece is provided with the usual openings 7 for the reception of the strings and the ridge 8 to hold same out of contact with the surface of the tailpiece.

It will thus be understood that I have invented a tailpiece which will effectively prevent the catgut from pulling out and which is so simple in construction as to render its general adoption a practical question.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination of a tailpiece, and a pin passing transversely through the tailpiece, said tailpiece being formed with a passage leading from one end thereof around the pin and through which the flexible member is passed by means of which it is secured to the tail-pin.

2. The combination of a tailpiece the under side of which is provided with a notch or depression having communication with longitudinal passages leading to the end of the tailpiece, and a metal pin placed between the two passages and adapted to receive and distribute the strain transmitted by the flexible member attaching the tailpiece to the tail-pin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BIRT CA HER. Witnesses:

M. WILLIS, HARRY WILLIs, 

